World · Border-post relocationMoldova border posts: Officers withdrawn from four Ukraine-side crossingsAired October 25, 2026 at 3:46 AM UTCWritten October 25, 2026 at 3:54 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Moldova has pulled its officers back from four joint border posts.0:10Attacks near the frontier have killed civilians and damaged the infrastructure that0:14keeps people and goods moving.0:16The two countries are negotiating to move more Ukrainian checks onto Moldovan soil.0:20How much is already working?0:21And what still has to happen?0:23A Russian strike killed two civilians and wounded three at Starokazache on September0:279th.0:28The crossing is about one kilometer from Moldovan territory.0:31Traffic stopped there, bringing the danger to people using this frontier into sharp0:35focus.0:36A drone attack had already damaged buildings at Tabaki on August 21, forcing a0:41temporary closure.0:42Then, on October 5th at Polanka, a projectile or debris ricocheted into a scheduled0:47bus.0:48A Moldovan border officer suffered minor injuries.0:51Russia has claimed these crossings supply weapons to Ukraine.0:54Moldova rejects that claim.0:56Moldova has brought both its border police and customs officers home from four joint1:00posts.1:01Interior Minister Daniela Misail-Nichitin says arrangements have been agreed with1:05Ukraine for two crossings.1:06The governments haven't named those two locations or given dates for full operation.1:11The minister described the four-post withdrawal as complete by October 20.1:15The security changes reach back to September.1:17Before those changes, Moldovan officers worked alongside Ukrainian officers at joint1:22facilities on Ukrainian territory.1:24The general arrangement now puts each country's checks on its own side of the1:27border, with an important exception at Kriva.1:30The September measure covered Jurjulesti Rani, Briseni Rosashani, and1:34Kriva-Mamaliga.1:35It took effect on September 12th for 90 days.1:38Border police and customs officers were to return to existing Moldovan facilities,1:42while authorities promised to keep people and vehicles moving.1:45That promise concerned continued operations.1:48Travelers could still face delays.1:50On October 7th, the minister named Kriva and Polanka as places where employees had1:55already withdrawn.1:56Her description of two completed withdrawals doesn't line up neatly with September's1:59three-site measure.2:00Polanka's place in the later four-post total is still unclear.2:04Ukrainian border guards already work on Moldovan soil at Kriva Mamaliga for outbound2:08traffic.2:09The corresponding inbound arrangement still needs organizing.2:12So, part of the proposed model is already operating even as the broader two-crossing2:16package awaits full implementation.2:18An existing bilateral agreement allows joint checkpoints.2:21The countries have exchanged letters and are preparing a roadmap for Moldovan2:25facilities.2:26Joint inspections let both countries check a traveler's documents in one place.2:30Moving those inspections would reduce exposure to attacks on Ukrainian2:33infrastructure while preserving the border checks themselves.2:36Ukrainian officers need workstations connected to their operating systems along with2:40equipment and information security protections.2:43Some Moldovan sites lack room and infrastructure for the extra personnel.2:47Preparing a desk is only part of making a joint checkpoint work.2:50Ukraine could transfer modular structures if needed.2:53Officials are still working through whether particular moves would be permanent or2:57activated during danger.2:58Their immediate goal includes a fallback location where officers could keep checks3:02running at reduced capacity.3:04Expanding that into a fully equipped, higher-capacity crossing requires more3:07preparation.3:08Durkak described an emergency setup that could handle minimum capacity checks during3:12danger.3:13A larger operation would need more infrastructure.3:16He also said a prepared contingency plan and mobile structures had restored3:19operations at one checkpoint within 24 hours, while the threat continued.3:23Durkak described three Ukraine-Moldova crossings in Odisha region as almost3:28completely destroyed.3:29Those three damaged facilities are counted separately from Moldova's four staffing3:33withdrawals.3:34His 24-hour restart concerned operations at one checkpoint.3:37Rebuilding damaged infrastructure and keeping an alternative crossing available3:41remain larger tasks.3:42Sergei Durkak, Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories3:46Development, expected several pilot projects within three months.3:50He also plans several joint posts on Moldovan soil during 2026.3:54That sets a year-end ambition for actual operations, with opening dates still3:58unsettled.3:59Counting three months from October 4-1 reaches January 1, but Durkak didn't announce4:04a binding deadline for that day.4:06Moldova's four-post withdrawal is complete, and Kriva already has outbound Ukrainian4:10checks.4:11Wider relocation still depends on preparing facilities and putting the agreed4:15arrangements into operation.4:16Shelter work is continuing alongside that effort.4:19Moldova is preparing protective spaces for border police, customs officers, and4:23members of the public at exposed crossings.4:25Miscellaneous says further incidents could happen.4:28Staff are also due to receive personal protective equipment while work on the4:32shelters continues.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
